Indaba Yokuphila

Gafundiswa NguJehova Kusukela Ebusheni Bami

ILANDISWA URICHARD ABRAHAMSON

“O Nkulunkulu, ungifundisile kusukela ebusheni bami kuqhubeke, kuze kube manje ngiyaqhubeka ngilandisa ngemisebenzi yakho emangalisayo.” Ake ngichaze ukuthi kungani lawo mazwi eHubo 71:17 esho lukhulu kimi.

NGO-1924 umama, uFannie Abrahamson, watholwa abaFundi BeBhayibheli, njengoba oFakazi BakaJehova babebizwa kanjalo ngalezo zikhathi. Nganginonyaka nje ngizelwe. Njengoba umama ayefundiswa amaqiniso eBhayibheli, wayegijima aye komakhelwane bakhe ayobatshela izinto azifundile, futhi wafundisa nami, umfowethu omdala nodadewethu omdala. Ngingakakwazi nokuzifundela, wangisiza ukuba ngiyibambe ngekhanda imiBhalo eminingi yezibusiso zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu.

Ekupheleni kwawo-1920, iqembu lethu labaFundi BeBhayibheli eLa Grande, esifundeni sase-Oregon, e-U.S.A., lapho ngazalelwa khona ngakhulela khona, lalinabesifazane abambalwa nezingane. Nakuba sasisendaweni ecezile, kanye noma kabili ngonyaka sasihanjelwa izikhonzi ezijikelezayo, ezazibizwa ngama-pilgrim. Zazinikeza izinkulumo ezikhuthazayo, zihambe nathi enkonzweni yendlu ngendlu, zibonise isithakazelo somusa nasezinganeni. Ezinye zalezo zikhonzi ezithandekayo kwakunguShield Toutjian, uGene Orrell, noJohn Booth.

Ngo-1931 akekho eqenjini lethu owakwazi ukuya emhlanganweni owawuseColumbus, e-Ohio, lapho abaFundi BeBhayibheli bamukela khona igama elithi oFakazi BakaJehova. Kodwa lawo mabandla namaqembu angawodwa ayengenamuntu owayeye emhlanganweni ahlangana ezindaweni ngezindawo ngalowo August, athatha izwi lesinqumo lokwamukela leli gama. Neqembu lethu elincane laseLa Grande lenza kanjalo. Kwabe sekuthi emkhankasweni wango-1933 wokusakaza incwajana ethi The Crisis, ngabamba intshumayelo yeBhayibheli ngekhanda, ngashumayela ngedwa endlini ngendlu, ngiqala ngqá.

Phakathi nawo-1930, umsebenzi wethu wawuya uphikiswa nakakhulu. Ukuze kubhekanwe nalokhu, amabandla ahlelwa akha amaqembu, ayeba nemihlangano enjengeyesifunda kodwa emincane futhi kanye noma kabili ngonyaka athathe uhambo lokuyoshumayela, olwalubizwa ngokuthi umkhankaso weqembu. Kule mihlangano enjengeyesifunda, sasifundiswa izindlela zokushumayela, siboniswe nendlela yokuwasingatha ngenhlonipho amaphoyisa aphazamisayo. Njengoba oFakazi babevamile ukuyiswa ejajini lasemaphoyiseni noma enkantolo evamile, sasibukeza ukwaziswa okusephepheni leziyalezo okuthiwa i-“Order of Trial” (Uhlelo Lokuqulwa Kwecala). Lokhu kwasihlomisela ukubhekana nokuphikiswa.

Ukwanda Kweqiniso LeBhayibheli Kudala

Ngangiya ngiwaqonda kangcono amaqiniso eBhayibheli nethemba elisekelwe eBhayibhelini lokuphila phakade emhlabeni ngaphansi koMbuso kaNkulunkulu wasezulwini. Ngaleso sikhathi, ubhapathizo lwalungagcizelelwa kangako kulabo abangenalo ithemba lokubusa noKristu ezulwini. (IsAmbulo 5:10; 14:1, 3) Noma kunjalo, ngatshelwa ukuthi uma nginqumile enhliziyweni yami ukwenza intando kaJehova, kungafaneleka ukuba ngibhapathizwe. Lokho ngakwenza ngo-August 1933.

Lapho ngineminyaka engu-12 ubudala, uthisha wami wabona sengathi nginekhono njengesikhulumi sasobala; ngakho wanxusa umama ukuba angihlelele ukuthola ukuqeqeshwa okwengeziwe. Umama wakubona kuzongisiza lokhu ukuba ngikhonze uJehova kangcono. Ngakho isikhathi esingangonyaka wakhokhela izifundo zami ngokuhlanza izingubo zomqeqeshi wami. Lokho kuqeqeshwa kwaba usizo enkonzweni yami. Lapho ngineminyaka engu-14 ubudala, ngahlatshwa imfiva ye-rheumatism, yangiqumba phansi isikhathi esingaphezu konyaka.

Ngo-1939 kwafika isikhonzi sesikhathi esigcwele okuthiwa uWarren Henschel ngasekhaya.a Ngokomoya, wayenjengomfowethu omdala kimi, engithatha sihambe naye usuku lonke ensimini. Ngokushesha wangisiza ukuba ngiqale inkonzo yobuphayona besikhathi samaholide, inkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele yesikhashana. Ngalelo hlobo, iqembu lethu lahlelwa laba ibandla. UWarren wamiswa njengenceku yebandla, mina ngamiswa njengomqhubi weSifundo Se-Nqabayokulinda. Lapho uWarren ehamba eyokhonza eBethel, indlunkulu yomhlaba wonke yoFakazi BakaJehova eseBrooklyn, eNew York, kwaba yimi inceku yebandla.

Ukuqala Inkonzo Yesikhathi Esigcwele

Umthwalo wemfanelo owandisiwe wokukhonza njengenceku yebandla wasiqinisa nakakhulu isifiso sami sokungenela inkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele, engakwenza lapho ngineminyaka engu-17 ubudala sengiqedé unyaka wesithathu esikoleni esiphakeme. Ubaba wayengahlanganyeli, kodwa wayengumondli okahle futhi eyindoda enezimiso eziphakeme. Wayefuna ngiye ekolishi. Nokho, wathi ngingenza engikuthandayo, uma nje ngingezukuthembela kuye ngemali yendawo yokuhlala nokudla. Ngakho ngaqala ukuphayona ngo-September 1, 1940.

Lapho ngihamba ekhaya, umama wathi mangifunde izAga 3:5, 6: “Thembela kuJehova ngayo yonke inhliziyo yakho, ungenciki kokwakho ukuqonda. Mqaphele kuzo zonke izindlela zakho, yena uyokwenza izindlela zakho ziqonde.” Ngempela, ukushiyela ukuphila kwami ezandleni zikaJehova njalo kuye kwangisiza kakhulu.

Ngemva kwesikhashana, ngajoyina uJoe noMargaret Hart enkonzweni enyakatho emaphakathi yeWashington State. Insimu yayihlukahlukene—amapulazi ezinkomo, amapulazi ezimvu, izabelo zamaNdiya, namadolobhana amaningi amancane. Entwasahlobo yango-1941, ngabelwa ukuba inceku yebandla ebandleni laseWenatchee, eWashington.

Komunye wemihlangano yethu yesifunda eWalla Walla, eWashington, ngangiwumlindi, ngamukela abangena ehholo. Ngabona umzalwane osemncane etikatikana nesimiso sokukhulisa izwi singavumi ukusebenza. Ngakho ngasikisela ukuba athathe isabelo sami, mina ngithathe esakhe. Lapho inceku yesifunda, u-Albert Hoffman, ibuya ithola ukuthi ngisishiyile isabelo sami, yangichazela ngobuso obumamathekayo ukubaluleka kokunamathela esabelweni sakho kuze kube yilapho utshelwa okuhlukile. Ngasikhumbula njalo iseluleko sakhe.

Ngo-August 1941, oFakazi BakaJehova bahlela umhlangano omkhulu eSt. Louis, eMissouri. AbakwaHart bamboza isikheqana seveni yabo bafaka amabhentshi. Sahamba amakhilomitha angu-2 400 ngaleyo veni siya eSt. Louis singamaphayona angu-9. Kwasithatha cishe isonto ukuya nesonto ukubuya. Emhlanganweni, amaphoyisa alilinganisela ku-115 000 inani eliphakeme lababekhona. Nakuba cishe lalingaphansi kwalokho, nakanjani lona lalingaphezu kuka-65 000 owawungaba inani loFakazi e-United States ngaleso sikhathi. Umhlangano wawukhuthaza ngempela ngokomoya.

Ukukhonza EBethel YaseBrooklyn

Ngemva kokuphindela eWenatchee, ngathola incwadi eyayingicela ukuba ngize eBethel yaseBrooklyn. Lapho ngifika ngo-October 27, 1941, ngayiswa ehhovisi likaNathan H. Knorr, umqondisi wefekthri. Wangichazela ngomusa ukuthi iBethel injani wagcizelela nokuthi kubalulekile ukuhlala useduze noJehova ukuze uphumelele ekuphileni kwakhona. Ngabe sengiyiswa eMnyangweni Wokuthumela Izincwadi ngafakwa emsebenzini wokubopha amabhokisi ezincwadi azothunyelwa.

Ngo-January 8, 1942, uJoseph Rutherford, owayekade ehola oFakazi BakaJehova emhlabeni wonke washona. Ngemva kwezinsuku ezinhlanu abaqondisi beNhlangano bakhetha uMfoweth’uKnorr ukuba athathe isikhundla sakhe. Lapho uW. E. Van Amburgh, owayesenesikhathi eside engumgcini-zimali ongunobhala weNhlangano, ememezela lokhu emkhayeni waseBethel, wathi: “Ngiyakhumbula lapho uC. T. Russell eshona [ngo-1916] futhi kubekwa uJ. F. Rutherford endaweni yakhe. INkosi yaqhubeka iqondisa futhi ichumisa umsebenzi waYo. Manje, ngikulindele ngokugcwele ukuba umsebenzi uqhubekele phambili njengoba uNathan H. Knorr engumongameli, ngoba lo msebenzi ungoweNkosi, akuwona owomuntu.”

Ngo-February 1942, kwamenyezelwa ukuthi kuzoqalwa i-“Advanced Course in Theocratic Ministry” (IMfundo Ethuthukisiwe Enkonzweni Engokwasezulwini). Yayihlelelwe ukuqeqesha labo abaseBethel ukuba bathuthukise ikhono labo lokucwaninga izindaba zeBhayibheli, bakuhlele kahle ukwaziswa futhi bakudlulisele ngokuphumelelayo. Ngenxa yokusizwa ukuqeqeshwa engangikuthole ngaphambili njengesikhulumi sasobala, ngakwazi ukuthuthuka ngokushesha kulesi simiso.

Kungakabiphi, ngabelwa eMnyangweni Wenkonzo, oqondisa inkonzo yoFakazi e-United States. Kamuva ngalowo nyaka, kwanqunywa ukuba siphinde siqalwe isimiso sokuba amabandla oFakazi ahanjelwe izikhonzi. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, lezi zikhonzi ezijikelezayo, ezazibizwa ngokuthi izinceku zabazalwane, zabizwa ngokuthi ababonisi besifunda. Ehlobo lango-1942, eBethel kwahlelwa isikole sokuqeqeshela abazalwane lolu hlobo lwenkonzo, ngaba nelungelo lokuba phakathi kwalabo abaqeqeshwayo. Ngikhumbula ngokukhethekile ukuthi uMfoweth’ uKnorr, omunye wababefundisa, wagcizelela leli phuzu kithi: “Ungazami ukujabulisa abantu. [Uma wenza kanjalo] uyogcina ungajabulisanga muntu. Jabulisa uJehova, uyojabulisa bonke abathanda uJehova.”

Umsebenzi wokujikeleza waqalwa ngo-October 1942. Abanye bethu eBethel babewenza ngezimpelasonto ezithile, bahambele amabandla aqhele ngamakhilomitha angengaphezu kuka-400 ukusuka eNew York City. Sasibukeza umsebenzi wokushumayela webandla namanani ababa khona emihlanganweni, sibe nomhlangano nalabo abanakekela imithwalo yemfanelo yebandla, sinikeze inkulumo eyodwa noma ezimbili, futhi sisebenze noFakazi bebandla enkonzweni.

Ngo-1944, ngangiphakathi kwaboMnyango Wenkonzo abathunyelwa emsebenzini wokujikeleza isikhathi esiyizinyanga eziyisithupha, ngakhonza eDelaware, eMaryland, ePennsylvania, naseVirginia. Kamuva, ngahambela amabandla aseConnecticut, eMassachusetts, naseRhode Island, izinyanga ezimbalwa. Lapho ngiphindela eBethel, ngasebenza isikhathi esithile noMfoweth’uKnorr nonobhala wakhe uMilton Henschel, lapho ngazi khona umsebenzi wethu womhlaba wonke. Ngasebenza isikhathi esithile naseHhovisi Likamgcini-zimali elaliqondiswa uW. E. Van Amburgh nomsizi wakhe, uGrant Suiter. Kwabe sekuthi ngo-1946, ngamiswa njengomqondisi wamahhovisi athile aseBethel.

Izinguquko Ezinkulu Ekuphileni Kwami

Lapho ngikhonza amabandla ngo-1945, ngazana noJulia Charnauskas eProvidence, eRhode Island. Phakathi no-1947, sase sicabanga ukushada. Ngangingeve ngiyithanda inkonzo yaseBethel, kodwa ngaleso sikhathi lalingekho ilungiselelo lokuba umuntu alethe umuntu ashada naye eBethel. Ngakho ngo-January 1948, ngahamba eBethel, sashada noJulia (uJulie). Ngathola itoho esitolo esithile eProvidence, saqala ukuphayona ndawonye.

Ngo-September 1949, ngacelwa ukuba ngenze umsebenzi wesifunda enyakatho-ntshonalanga yeWisconsin. Ukushumayela endaweni edle ngamadolobhana amancane namaphandle obisi kwakuwushintsho olukhulu kimi noJulie. Ubusika babudonsa futhi bubanda kakhulu, kuphele amasonto amaningi izinga lokubanda lingaphansi kwezingaqhwa, futhi likhithika kakhulu. Sasingenayo imoto. Nokho, njalo kwakuba nothile osithathayo asiyise ebandleni elilandelayo.

Ngokushesha ngemva kokuba ngiqale ukujikeleza, saba nomhlangano wesifunda. Ngikhumbula ngihlolisisa ngentshiseko yonke imisebenzi ukuthi inaye yini umuntu oyinakekelayo, okwenza abanye bangakhululeka. Ngakho umbonisi wesigodi, uNicholas Kovalak, wachaza ngomusa ukuthi abazalwane balapha banendlela yabo abayijwayele yokunakekela imisebenzi ngakho akudingeki ngizame ukuqondisa izinto kangaka. Leso seluleko siye sangisiza ekusingatheni izabelo eziningi kusukela ngaleso sikhathi.

Ngo-1950, ngathola isabelo sesikhashana—ukwengamela ukulungiselelwa kwezindawo zokulala zezihambeli zomhlangano wethu wokuqala kweminingi emikhulu eyaba seYankee Stadium, eNew York City. Lowo mhlangano wawugcwele injabulo kusukela uqala uze uyophela, unezihambeli ezivela emazweni angu-67 nenani eliphakeme lababekhona elingu-123 707! Ngemva komhlangano, saqhubeka nenkonzo yokujikeleza sinoJulie. Sasijabule impela emsebenzini wesifunda. Nokho, sasinomuzwa wokuthi kufanele siqhubeke sizenza sitholakale. Ngakho unyaka ngamunye, sasifaka izicelo zenkonzo yaseBethel neyezithunywa zevangeli. Ngo-1952 sajabula lapho simenywa ukuba sibe sekilasini lama-20 le-Watchtower Bible School of Gilead, lapho saqeqeshelwa khona umsebenzi wezithunywa zevangeli.

Ukukhonza Phesheya

Lapho siphothula ngo-1953, sabelwa eBrithani, lapho ngakhonza khona emsebenzini wesigodi eningizimu yeNgilandi. Ungakapheli unyaka sikulo msebenzi, esasiwujabulela kakhulu sinoJulie, sasimangaza isabelo esasithola sokuba sithuthele eDenmark. EDenmark kwakudingeka umqondisi omusha wehhovisi legatsha. Njengoba ngangiseduze futhi ngike ngawuqeqeshelwa umsebenzi onjalo eBrooklyn, kwathunyelwa mina ukuyosiza. Sagibela isikebhe saya eNetherlands, safika khona sabamba isitimela esibheke eCopenhagen, eDenmark. Safika ngo-August 9, 1954.

Enye yezinkinga ezazidinga ukuxazululwa kwakuwukuthi abathile ababesezikhundleni zomthwalo wemfanelo babengasamukeli isiqondiso esivela endlunkulu eBrooklyn. Futhi, kubahumushi abane ababehumushela izincwadi zethu olimini lwesiDanishi, abathathu bahamba eBethel, bagcina bezihlukanisile noFakazi BakaJehova. Kodwa uJehova wayiphendula imithandazo yethu. Amaphayona amabili, uJørgen no-Anna Larsen, ayeke ahumusha ngezikhathi ezithile, azenza atholakala ukuze ahumushe isikhathi esigcwele. Ngakho ukuhunyushelwa komagazini bethu olimini lwesiDanishi kwaqhubeka ngaphandle kokweqa nowodwa umagazini. Namanje abakwaLarsen baseseBethel yaseDenmark, futhi uJørgen ungumqondisi weKomiti Yegatsha.

Into eyayisikhuthaza ngempela kuleyo minyaka yakudala kwakuwukuhambela njalo kukaMfoweth’uKnorr. Wayezinika isikhathi sokuhlala phansi axoxe, alande okuhlangenwe nakho okubonisa indlela yokusingatha izinkinga. Kokunye ukuhambela ngo-1955, kwanqunywa ukuthi kufanele sakhe igatsha elisha elinendawo yokunyathelisa ukuze sikwazi ukunyathelisela iDenmark omagazini. Kwatholakala indawo enyakatho yeCopenhagen, kwathi ngehlobo lango-1957, sathuthela esakhiweni esisha. UHarry Johnson, owayesanda kufika eDenmark nomkakhe uKarin ngemva kokuphothula ekilasini lama-26 laseGileyadi, wasisiza ekuhleleni indawo yethu yokunyathelisa ukuba iqale ukusebenza.

Sathuthukisa indlela esasihlela ngayo imihlangano emikhulu eDenmark, futhi ulwazi engangiluthole ngokusebenza emihlanganweni e-United States lwasiza. Ngo-1961 umhlangano wethu wezizwe omkhulu eCopenhagen waba nezihambeli ezivela emazweni angaphezu kwangu-30. Inani eliphakeme lababekhona laba ngu-33 513. Ngo-1969, saba nomhlangano owaba mkhulu kunayo yonke eScandinavia, waba nenani eliphakeme labangu-42 073!

Ngo-1963, ngamenyelwa ekilasini lama-38 laseGileyadi. Lalinezifundo ezihlelwe kabusha zezinyanga eziyishumi zokuqeqesha ngokukhethekile labo abanomthwalo wemfanelo emagatsheni. Kwakumnandi ukuphinde ngibe kanye nomkhaya waseBethel yaseBrooklyn nokuzuza kokuhlangenwe nakho kwalabo abase beneminyaka eminingi benakekela imisebenzi yasendlunkulu.

Ngemva kwalezi zifundo zokuqeqeshwa, ngaphindela eDenmark ngayoqhubeka nokunakekela imisebenzi yakhona. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ngaba nelungelo lokukhonza njengombonisi wamagatsha, ngihambela amagatsha asentshonalanga nasenyakatho yeYurophu, ngikhuthaza izisebenzi zakhona futhi ngizisize ekufezeni imithwalo yazo yemfanelo. Muva nje, lo msebenzi ngiye ngawenza eNtshonalanga Afrika nasemazweni aseCaribbean.

Ngasekupheleni kwawo-1970, abazalwane eDenmark baqala ukufuna indawo okwakungakhiwa kuyo isakhiwo esikhudlwana ngenxa yomsebenzi owandayo wokuhumusha nokunyathelisa. Kwatholakala indawo enhle emakhilomitheni angaba ngu-60 entshonalanga yeCopenhagen. Ngasebenza nabanye ekuhleleni nasekuklameni lesi sakhiwo esisha, futhi sasibheke phambili sinoJulie ekuhlaleni nomkhaya waseBethel ekhaya lawo elisha. Kodwa akubanga njalo.

Ukuphindela EBrooklyn

Ngo-November 1980, samenywa sinoJulie ukuba sibuye sizokhonza eBethel yaseBrooklyn, lapho safika khona ekuqaleni kuka-January 1981. Ngaleso sikhathi sase sicela eminyakeni engu-60 ubudala, futhi ngemva kokukhonza cishe ingxenye yokuphila kwethu sinabafowethu nodadewethu abathandekayo baseDenmark, kwakungelula ukuphindela e-United States. Nokho, asigxilanga ekutheni ikuphi lapho singathanda ukuba khona, kodwa sazama ukugxila ezabelweni zethu zangaleso sikhathi nakunoma iziphi izinselele eziza nalezo zabelo.

Safika eBrooklyn sazinza. UJulie wabelwa ehhovisi lezimali, wenza umsebenzi othi awufane nalowo ayewenza eDenmark. Mina ngabelwa eMnyangweni Wokubhala ukuba ngisize ekuhleleni izikhathi zokulungiselelwa kwezincwadi zethu. Ukuqala kwawo-1980 kwakuyisikhathi soshintsho emisebenzini yethu eBrooklyn, njengoba sayeka ukusebenzisa imishini yokubhala nokunyathelisa ngomthofu oshisayo sasebenzisa ama-computer nemishini yokunyathelisa eyi-offset. Ngangingazi lutho ngama-computer kodwa ngangiziqonda ngezinga elithile izinqubo zokuhlela umsebenzi nokusebenza nabantu.

Ngokushesha ngemva kwalokho, kwadingeka kulungiswe indlela uMnyango Wezithombe owawuhlelwe ngayo njengoba sasiqala ukunyathelisa ngemibala egcwele emishinini eyi-offset nokusebenzisa imifanekiso nezithombe ezinemibala. Nakuba ngangingakaze ngibe umdwebi, ngasiza ekuhleleni. Ngakho ngaba nelungelo lokuqondisa lowo mnyango iminyaka engu-9.

Ngo-1992, ngabelwa ukusiza iKomiti Yokunyathelisa yeNdikimba Ebusayo futhi ngashintshelwa eHhovisi Likamgcini-zimali. Ngisaqhubeka ngikhonza lapho emsebenzini ophathelene nezimali zoFakazi BakaJehova.

Ukukhonza Kusukela Ebusheni Bami

Kusukela ngisemusha naphakathi neminyaka engu-70 yenkonzo yokuzinikezela, uJehova uye wangifundisa ngesineke ngeZwi lakhe, iBhayibheli, nangabazalwane abawusizo abasenhlanganweni yakhe emangalisayo. Ngiye ngajabulela iminyaka engaphezu kwengu-63 enkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele, engaphezu kwengu-55 yaleyo minyaka nginomkami oqotho, uJulie. Ngempela, ngizizwa ngicetshiswe kakhulu nguJehova.

Kudala ngo-1940 lapho ngihamba ekhaya ngiyongenela inkonzo yokuphayona, ubaba wasihleka isinqumo sami wathi: “Ndodana, uma usuhamba la ekhaya uyokwenza le nto, ungacabangi ukuthi uzobuya untantatheka uzofuna usizo kimi.” Kuyo yonke le minyaka, akuzange kudingeke lokho. UJehova uye wazinakekela kahle izidingo zami, ngokuvamile esebenzisa amanye amaKristu awusizo. Kamuva, ubaba wawuhlonipha umsebenzi wethu, waze wathuthuka ngezinga elithile ekufundeni iqiniso leBhayibheli ngaphambi kokuba ashone ngo-1972. Umama, owayenethemba lokuphila ezulwini, waqhubeka ekhonza uJehova ngokwethembeka waze washona ngo-1985, eneminyaka engu-102 ubudala.

Nakuba ziba khona izinkinga enkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele, mina noJulie asikaze sicabange ukushiya isabelo sethu. Njalo uJehova ubelokhu esisekela kulesi sinqumo. Ngisho nalapho abazali bami sebeguga bedinga usizo, udadewethu, uVictoria Marlin, walekelela wabanakekela ngomusa. Asive simbonga ngosizo lwakhe lothando, oluye lwasenza sakwazi ukuqhubeka sisenkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele.

UJulie uye wangisekela ngobuqotho kuzo zonke izabelo zethu, ebheka lokhu njengengxenye yokuzinikezela kwakhe kuJehova. Nakuba manje ngineminyaka engu-80 ubudala futhi nginezinkinga ezithile zempilo, ngizizwa ngicetshiswe kakhulu nguJehova. Ungikhuthaza kakhulu umhubi, okwathi ngemva kokuba ethe uNkulunkulu uye wamfundisa kusukela ebusheni bakhe, wanxusa, ‘O Nkulunkulu, ungangishiyi, kuze kube ngisho nasekugugeni, ngize ngilandise ngamandla akho kulabo abasazofika.’—IHubo 71:17, 18.

[Umbhalo waphansi]

[Isithombe ekhasini 20]

Nginomama ngo-1940, lapho ngiqala ukuphayona

[Isithombe ekhasini 21]

Nginamaphayona esasinawo, uJoe noMargaret Hart

[Isithombe ekhasini 23]

Ngosuku lwethu lomshado ngo-January 1948

[Isithombe ekhasini 23]

Ngo-1953, nginabafundi esasinabo eGileyadi. Kusukela kwesokunxele kuya kwesokudla: uDon noVirginia Ward, uGeertruida Stegenga, uJulie, nami

[Isithombe ekhasini 23]

NginoFrederick W. Franz noNathan H. Knorr eCopenhagen, eDenmark, ngo-1961

[Isithombe ekhasini 25]

NginoJulie namuhla